North China's Tianjin municipality plans to to increase use of natural gas in central heatingto reduce air pollution, the local authorities said.Tianjin government announced on Tuesday four new gas-fired generators and conversionof some coal burning boilers by the end of 2014.By 2014, more than sixty percent of heat will be provided by natural gas, said ZhangZhiqiang,director of the Tianjin Municipal Committee of Development and Reform.Construction of the plants is part of the city's effort to optimize energy mix and reduceemissions.Tianjin was one of the 10 cities with worst air quality in the third quarter of the year. Airpollution in Beijing, neighboring Tianjin and Hebei Province was worse than other parts ofthe country.Beijing has an air pollution emergency response program in place. Cars with odd and evenlicense plates are allowed on the roads on alternating days and 30 percent of governmentcars are banned from streets on an odd/even basis when a red air pollution alert is issued.Hebei is cutting steel output capacity to reduce its polution by one third.A central government action plan unveiled last month uses a multipronged approach to theissue, cutting coal use, shutting down polluters and promoting cleaner production.(Editor:DuMingming、Chen Lidan)Related readingChina reports drop in major pollutants emissions'Road to Heaven' besieged by garbage: surveyBeijing to ban half of private cars on high-pollution dayChange to law may make it easier to sue pollutersPollution creates risk for kids and the elderlyGovt offers 5b yuan to fight pollutionWe Recommend